Wine Growing Areas

There is no one leading region for California dessert wines, nor singular characteristic terroir, or even signature interpretation. The highest quality sweet wines in the Golden State range dramatically in style, composition, and production techniques, exhibiting as much diversity as the complexion of the state’s population. In the end, and with the understanding of high-quality fruit as a starting point, the skill, intent, and hand of the winemaker stand out as much as anything else.

While it would be a safe bet to say that every country that makes wine also makes dessert wine, below is a chart/list of leading nations with, where applicable, their primary regions called out. Grapes will vary, along with production methods and styles by country/region.

  • France: Champagne, Loire Valley (Vouvray, Saumur, Chaume, Quarts de Chaumes, Bonnezeaux), Alsace (Vendange Tardive, Sélection de Grains Nobles). Rhône Valley (Rasteau, Beaumes de Venise), Languedoc and Roussillon (Banyuls, Rivesaltes, Maury), Bordeaux (Sauternes, Barsac, Cadillac), Southwest (Jurançon, Monbazillac), Jura (Vin de Paille)
  • Italy: Tuscany (Vin Santo), Emilia Romagna (Lambrusco), Piedmont (Asti, Moscato d’Asti, Brachetto d'Acqui), Friuli (Picolit), Sicily (Marsala), Veneto (Recioto, Amarone), Islands (Lipari, Pantelleria), Sardinia
  • Germany: Most regions, especially Rheingau, Mosel, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Pfalz. Styles range from Auslese, Beerenauslese,Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein) and sweeter styles of Sekt (sparkling wine)
  • Portugal: Douro (Oporto), Setúbal, Alentejo, Madeira
  • Spain: Andalucía (Jerez, Málaga, Montilla-Moriles), Navarra
  • Austria: Various regions produce wines in the styles of Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Ruster Ausbruch DAC, as well as Eiswein, Schilfwein and Strohwein (literally “straw wine”)
  • Hungary: Tokaji
  • Other European Countries: Cyprus (Commandaria), Greece (Vin Santo), 
  • Australia: Victoria (Rutherglen for Muscat-based ports/soleras). Various regions produce late-harvest styles
  • New Zealand: Various regions produce late-harvest wines
  • South Africa: Western Cape (Constantia), fortified port-style wines made in various regions
  • The Americas
    • Argentina: Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja
    • Chile: Aconcagua (Casablanca)
    • Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul 
    • Uruguay: Canelones, Colonia
    • Canada: Ontario (Niagara), British Columbia (Okanagan), Quebec
    • USA (beyond CA): Oregon, Washington, New York, Virginia, Texas, Michigan, Missouri, Vermont